Shining Star
Listening Post 372. Many of West Africa’s leading musicians are from griot families, the celebrated hereditary caste of poet-musician-storytellers that has been a fixture of the region’s culture for centuries. But behind the griot mystique are the struggles and joys of every society, and Kimi Djabaté, a singer-songwriter from Guinea-Bissau, has juggled this dynamic tension most of his life. He started playing the balafon at age three, and by the time he was eight he was a recognized prodigy, performing at weddings and baptisms. Despite success, he felt robbed of a normal childhood—also held back, warned that if he shone too brightly jealous people (notably his griot uncles) might want to harm him. At 19, touring with his country’s National Music and Dance Ensemble, Djabaté decided not to go home, settling in Lisbon instead. There he released three acclaimed albums between 2005 and 2016, and was tapped by Madonna to sing in her 2019 release Ciao Bella. Even far removed from griot politics, however, he adhered to traditional styles. Now, on Dindin (Children), his fourth album, he has achieved what may be the perfect balance: Without abandoning the griot’s customary balafon or kora, he adds instruments, plus touches of desert blues, jazz, reggae, morna and gumbé. He also shares his views (in Mandinka and Guinea-Bissau Creole) about freedom, justice and exploitation, about family and nation building. The title track (video 1) has a simple message: Don’t hurt children. He explores attitudes that enable and endanger relationships in Alidonke (Let’s Dance, video 2) and Yensoro (You Had Me, video 3). And O Manhe (Forced Marriage, video 4) resurrects a painful and pivotal childhood memory of performing at a wedding and seeing the bride in tears; when he asked about it, he was admonished to entertain and not question. All these years later, Djabaté integrates the music and the answers. More than shine, he dazzles. (Cumbancha)

Kimi Djabaté: Dindin
Kimi Djabaté: Vocals, acoustic guitar, balafon, bongos, claps, mola
Marcos Alves: Percussion
Chico Santos: Bass
Mamadi Djabaté: Electric guitar
Paulo Borges: Keyboard, accordion
Miroca Paris: Congas, bongos
Fernando Fafe: Vocals
Mbye Ebrima: Kora
Elmano Coelho & Daniel Salomé: Saxophones

Dindin / Children
Lyrics & music: Kimi Djabaté

From the album notes: Reflecting on his own childhood and the current generation growing up in Africa, Kimi Djabaté implores people not to hurt or exploit children, but to educate them and listen to their individual needs. As the lyrics reflect, adults have the power to break the cycle of harm by encouraging children to grow up to become better human beings. Although Kimi speaks with the pain of personal experience, Dindin is not a mournful song; instead, it carries hope that his message will be heard.

(From the Mandinka lyrics)
Don’t hurt people/They will carry that wound through life
Don’t hurt the adults/And especially the children
If you set limits on the child/The frustration goes away
If you punish the child/The pain may pass
If you are sometimes rude to kids/The pain stays longer
But it may go away
If you hurt a child/They will carry that wound for life
If you hurt people/They will carry that wound through life
If you harm a child/They will carry that wound through life

Adults listen/Listen
Educate your children
Don’t exploit children/Help them to grow up
Don’t exploit the children/Educate the children

Don’t hurt the children/Help children become better human beings
Don’t hurt them/No one knows what they’ll become
Don’t hurt children/Don’t exploit the children
Na na na na na na na na naaa

Don’t hurt the children/Don’t hurt the children
Don’t hurt the children/Don’t hurt the children
Don’t hurt them

Don’t hurt the children/No one knows what they’ll become
Don’t hurt the children/Help the children become better human beings
Help children become better human beings

Na na na na na na na na naaa
Don’t hurt the children/Don’t hurt the children

Alidonke / Let’s Dance
Lyrics & music: Kimi Djabaté

Album notes: A joyful celebration of finding love and friendship and the various forms of communication—smiling, talking, caring for each other and dancing together—that strengthen these relationships.

(From the Mandinka lyrics)
Smile at me/My love
Speak to me/Give me your hand

It’s you that I want/The love of my life has arrived
My friend has arrived/Smile at me
If you don’t smile at me, who will?
Speak to me/If you don’t speak to me, who will?

Let’s take care of each other
Let’s dance/Let’s dance
It’s you that I want
The love of my life has arrived
My friend has arrived

Yensoro / You Had Me
Lyrics & music: Kimi Djabaté

(From the Mandinka lyrics)
We had a chance/To be happy
But you didn’t wait
You had me in your hands/I had you in mine
But you didn’t wait

You had me in your hands/I had you in mine
But you didn’t wait
You had me in your hands/I had you in mine
But you were not able to wait

Tomorrow/No one knows what will come
Oh, how sad/Oh, how sad
No one knows what will come tomorrow

Learn to wait
No one knows what will come tomorrow

You had me in your hands/I had you in mine
But you didn’t wait for me
You were so important/You had me in your hands
But you didn’t wait, everything has its time

Oh, what a pity/No one knows what will come tomorrow
Oh, how sad

O Manhe / Forced Marriage
Lyrics & music: Kimi Djabaté

(From the lyrics in Mandinka and Guinea-Bissau Creole)
Don’t force someone to marry another they don’t like
If someone doesn’t like the other, they don’t have to marry
Don’t force someone to marry another they don’t like

Listen/This isn’t right
Stop it/This has to stop

My people/It’s wrong to force a marriage
We all have the right to choose

Willingly/We will understand each other
And we will support each other in hard times

Don’t force someone to marry another they don’t like
If someone doesn’t like the other, they don’t have to marry
Don’t force someone to marry another they don’t like

Listen/This isn’t right
Stop it/This has to stop

Listen/This isn’t right
My people, why force a marriage?